A Southern Charms Cozy Potluck Box Set

by Bella Falls

  I swallowed hard. “Okay.”

  “You get on first,” he instructed.

  Confused, I did as I was told, straddling the handle. “You’re not riding in front?”

  Mason climbed on behind me, his body cradling mine. He leaned his head over my left shoulder, speaking into my ear. “Nope. You’re going to lean back into me a bit and follow my lead. When I lean, you lean. Other than that, I’ve got you.” He wrapped his arms around me, gripping the handle in front of where I grasped it.

  “Oh,” I gasped. The intimacy of it all erased my previous anger. Enjoying the closeness, I nestled my back into his chest.

  His chuckle vibrated against me. “I’m going to extend my magic around you. This would work smoother if we could tether our energy together, but I don’t expect you to do that on your first real ride.”

  Mingling our magic would be the ultimate demonstration of my trust in him. It could also open a door between us that might be very hard to close.

  “We can try.” Centering myself, I called on my energy and brought it to the surface, the thrill of the whole experience spurring me on.

  Mason drew in a quick breath and coughed to cover his surprise. “I’m tethering to you now.”

  The tingle of his magic reached out to me. With my will, I allowed his to mingle with mine until the steady power flowed through both of us. A smart witch kept up barriers to protect herself on many levels. I let mine down a little and found he had erected nothing between us.

  Images flowed into my mind of a place I didn’t know. Emotions that weren’t mine bloomed in my chest. It took me a second, but I figured out I was seeing Mason’s childhood, feeling how he felt growing up. The ghost of Jessica’s face appeared in my mind’s eye, and I almost choked on the love that enveloped my heart. My own jealousy battled the foreign feeling.

  My face replaced Mason’s ex’s, and an entirely different emotion took over. Initial frustration gave way to awe and admiration. The emotions morphed into something more personal until my heart almost burst from the strongest emotion of all.

  Not ready to accept what he was showing me yet, I threw up a bit of a barrier to stop the flow from him and changed my intent. I pushed my own memories at him, showing him my own evolution from feeling like an outcast to where I was right now. Purposefully staying far away from any emotions attached to him, I opened myself wider to share with him what it was like for me when I tracked things, something that nobody else understood.

  Mason placed his chin on my shoulder and sighed. “Wow.”

  “Very much wow.” I threw up my barriers to stop sharing quite so much and cleared my throat. “Are you gonna fly me around or what?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mason straightened on the broom. “At the count of three, you’re going to hop. One, two, three.”

  My feet had barely left the ground when the broom took off. The world whizzed by, and I held my breath, a little bit of fear eating away at my fun. Closing my eyes, I shut everything out.

  “I’ve got you,” Mason assured me. “Open your eyes and enjoy.”

  We glided over the field in the direction of the barn. The long grass rustled underneath us. He tested out our ability to work together, leaning right and left to bank us or do slow turns until we worked together like clockwork. We circled the barn, hearing the horses inside whinnying at our presence.

  He slowed down a bit. “Have you had enough for today?”

  “No way.” I shook my head. “Let’s take the training wheels off.”

  I didn’t have to see him to feel his grin. “As you wish. Hold on.”

  The magic we shared sparked to life, and we took off faster than before, the wind whipping around me. We zipped around the open field, climbing a little higher.

  My house loomed up ahead, and we didn’t steer away. “Uh, Mason.”

  His laugh vibrated against me again, and he leaned in closer. “Trust me.”

  I did, although I squealed as the structure got closer. He pulled us up and over at the last second, and my scream turned into fitful giggles as we climbed into the air. My enjoyment gave him full permission, and he pushed my limits.

  Fear and pleasure churned in my stomach, and I desired more. Answering my unspoken wish, Mason directed us to the edge of my property. We skimmed past trees, coming close to limbs and branches and maneuvering out of the way before getting hit. Pulling up again, we soared through the air in the afternoon sun.

  I turned my head at a familiar squawk and spotted Biddy, wings flung open and wind ruffling her feathers. She matched our speed, winging her way beside us. She cocked her head once in our direction and folded her wings, diving. Mason read my mind and followed her. She led us across the field, dipping up and down and winding back and forth to try and shake us off her tail. At one hard turn, I lost my balance and squealed.

  Mason tightened his body around me. “I’ve got you.” Every particle in me believed him.

  We stopped chasing the crow and slowed down, banking our descent until we approached my house. Giving him full control, I held on tight until we floated down and he landed us. Placing my feet on the ground, I tried to catch my breath. The world standing still felt too slow. Adrenaline pumped through me, and I craved more.

  Getting off the broom, I paced in front of my porch, amped up to the max. “That was incredible.”

  Mason held onto the long handle, staring at me with burning fire in his eyes. “Yes, it was.” He stalked toward me, and I backed up until my calf met the bottom stair.

  “We have to do that again.” My chest heaved, and I tried to catch my breath.

  He closed the distance between us, tossing the broom into the nearby bushes. “We will.”

  Without anywhere else to go, I stumbled backward and almost fell. Mason caught me, holding me against his body. The nearness of him fed my excitement. And, again, I craved more.

  His eyes dipped to my mouth, and he cupped my cheek with his hand. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Mason brushed the sensitive skin of my lips with his thumb, and chills rippled across my body. Giving into the adrenaline, the excitement of the moment, and the thrill still coursing through my veins, I reached my hand up and stroked the stubble on his cheek, inviting him closer.

  Wrapping one arm around my waist tighter and moving the hand on my cheek to the back of my neck, he tilted my head up to give him better access. The heat from his mouth blew against my skin, and my heart rate quickened. I closed my eyes in anticipation.

  Both of our phones rang at the same time, shattering the heated spell between us. We stood stock still, debating what to do. Whoever was calling me would definitely get their hiney hexed later.

  Mason bent his forehead against mine and let out a rueful snort. “Well, that’s a bucket of iced water.”

  I dropped my hand, the sudden awareness of what almost happened dawning on me. Disappointment flooded every inch of me, and I almost cursed when I pulled out my phone and answered it. “This better be good.”

  The detective stepped away and retrieved his own phone. “Detective Clairmont here.”

  “Charli,” called out Blythe over a loud commotion in the background. “Could you come over to the Wilkins’ house?”

  Mason frowned and concentrated. “What, Zeke? Say that again.”

  “What’s that noise?” I asked my friend.

  Something crashed on Blythe’s side of things. “Just get over here quick as you can.” She hung up.

  “I’m on my way.” Mason shut his phone.

  “Going to the Wilkins’ house?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Zeke says there’s a major problem there. I’m sorry we have to cut this short.” He approached me again and lifted my chin with his finger, gazing at me with regret and smoldering heat. “Really sorry.”

  I grasped his hand and squeezed it. “Maybe another time. Right now, can I hitch a ride?”

  Chapter Twenty

  We pulled up in front of Zeke’s family home. Ms. Althea greeted us at
the door, worry creasing her brow. The young deputy stood next to her, caught between being her son and being a warden.

  Ms. Althea let us in, pointing to the back side of the house. “She barged in not too long ago. The two of them are arguing on the patio. At least I got them to move out of the house and saved some of my things.”

  Zeke stayed with his mother, and Mason and I headed toward the shouting, stepping over a few broken pieces of china and glass. Shrill voices filled the air, and we found Shelby holding up her hands in defense while another woman on the other side of the wrought iron table circled around it like a predator.

  “You think the book buys your freedom? It doesn't belong to you,” shouted the stranger.

  Shelby's eyes widened in fear. “I don't have it, Tara.”

  “I don't believe you.” The other girl lunged across the table at Shelby.

  “Both of you, stop where you are,” demanded Mason.

  Shelby stood still, but Tara growled and attacked, her fingers curling to scratch with her nails.

  “With the authority of the wardens, I command you to stop.” Mason extended his power and both figures froze. With a flourish of his hand, he released Shelby from the magical hold, and she scrambled away.

  I approached her, keeping a wary eye on the aggressive girl. “Who is that?”

  Shelby’s mouth drooped with sadness. “That's my half-sister, Tara.”

  I remembered that name from my eavesdropping on Duke and Shelby at the Hawthorne’s kitchen. “Is she a banshee, too?” I asked.

  “I’m all witch, not some half-blooded piece of trash,” Shelby's sister spit out. “And let me go. Now.” She struggled to move.

  Mason’s magic held her tight. “From what I observed, you were the aggressor. I won’t release you until I’m sure that you won’t go after your sister again.”

  Tara shot a dirty glance at Shelby. “We may share half our DNA, but she's no family to me. I'm only here to collect what I’m owed. Once I get it, then I'll disappear.”

  Taking a good look, I noticed the two young women shared few similarities. Where Shelby's hair was straight and a light brown, Tara’s dark curls with purple streaks framed her face. They both had sparkling green eyes, but the intent behind them were complete opposites. Shelby's modest outfit contrasted with Tara’s tight-fitting tiny pieces of fabric that passed for clothing and strained against her curves, showing off a lot of skin.

  Sensing a losing battle, the darker of the two changed tactics. Tara’s face relaxed, and she focused on the detective. “You know, I'm really very nice. I'm sure we can work something out if you let me.” She licked her red-stained lips with lascivious intentions. “Why don't you come a little closer, and I’ll work out a deal with you.” Her eyes scraped down Mason's body, locking in on a very particular spot halfway down.

  “Bribing a person in law enforcement will get you arrested,” warned Mason.

  Tara’s expressions changed to one of contempt. “That’s not been my experience.”

  I didn't have time for her games. We needed to know why Shelby’s sister made the effort to come all the way to Honeysuckle. I had a pretty good hunch what it was she wanted. “You're looking for Duke’s black book, aren't you?”

  Her gaze flashed to me, morphing from seductive to rage. “So you knew about it, too? Why, are you in it?”

  With a click of his fingers, Mason did something to the magical hold around Tara, making her flinch. He snapped at her, “Answer her question.”

  “Yes, I want the book,” she admitted through her gritted teeth. “Most of what’s in it belongs to me,” she snarled.

  “You mean, you used your ways to seduce and manipulate people into doing things worthy of being recorded,” accused Shelby. She stepped forward and leaned on the table. “With the book gone, you can start fresh, get a different job, or maybe the two of us can figure out how to work together,” she pleaded with her half-sister.

  Tara snorted with disgust. “You seem to think that I don't like what I do. I'm happy workin’ at Hex Kittens. With a body like mine, I make a good livin’, and Duke’s taught me a way to make even more money. I have no intentions to follow in your goody-two-shoes ways, Sis.” The way she uttered that last word sounded more like a swear word than a term of endearment.

  Shelby dropped her chin to her chest, and I sympathized with the girl who wanted to save someone who didn’t want to be saved. Because of what the book contained, it remained dangerous until we could find it. Desperate, I formed a quick plan.

  Taking Shelby by the arm, I escorted her a few feet away and spoke to her in a low voice, telling her about my talents. “With your help, I might be able to find the book and put an end to it.”

  Hope eased the stress in Shelby's face. “What do you need me to do?” she asked.

  I held both of her hands and mine. “Concentrate on the black book. Want it with everything you've got.”

  “I can do that.” She nodded and closed her eyes.

  Using what I learned from my tracking experiments with my friends, I focused my energies. The image of the object flashed in and out of my mind. Somewhere in Honeysuckle, someone had the book in their possession.

  I squeezed Shelby’s hand. “Concentrate harder,” I requested. Closing my eyes tight, I tried to get past Shelby's banshee side. “Although this girl is half a fae, please let my magic have its way. Let me take a closer look and find that dangerous, important book.”

  Like a flame flickering in the wind, a small connection formed and fizzled. After three more attempts, I gave up and let her go with a regretful sigh.

  Tara snorted. “You two look like you're trying to hold a séance or somethin’.”

  Hearing her grating voice inspired me. Shelby might be half a fae, but like Tara said, she was all witch. I approached Mason. “Can you loosen your hold on her but keep her under control?”

  “Why?” His eyes bore into me, questioning my motives.

  “Because she wants the book more than anything else, and she isn’t half-banshee.” I lifted my eyebrows and waited for him to catch on.

  When he did, he glared at me. “I don't like it. We don't know how powerful she is or what she might do to you.”

  “We're going to have to risk that if we want to find that book. You and I both know it's the key to solving the whole case,” I insisted.

  The two of us approached Tara, ignoring her numerous and unimaginative insults. Mason got physically close to her, and a pang of jealousy stung me for a second.

  The detective explained in clear words, “I’m going to loosen my hold, but I warn you, try anything and I won’t hesitate.”

  “To do what?” Tara growled.

  “To take you out,” he promised. Looking up at me, he nodded his head in her direction. “It's your show.”

  Appreciating his immediate trust, I closed the distance between Tara and me. “Let her go when I touch her,” I instructed.

  “Keep your hands off me,” insisted the half-naked woman.

  Not backing down, I riled her up. “Is that what you want most? For me not to touch you or for you to find the book?”

  As soon as I was sure she was thinking about the object, I grabbed hold of her hand. “Now,” I called out.

  With the wardens authoritative power gone, I concentrated and called on my talents. The image of the book appeared clear in my head, and I tethered the thread of connection to me, seeking out it's path as fast as I could.

  Tara pushed me away, and I stumbled over one of the chairs and fell to the ground, the connection dissipating. Her muscles tightened to attack me, and Mason extended his warden power over her again.

  “I know where it is,” I exclaimed, scrambling up.

  A wildness shadowed Tara’s face. “Tell me where it is.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, rubbing my sore behind. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “If you don't, I'm sure I can make you.”

  “That's going to
be difficult to do since you’re headed to our station.” Mason called out for Zeke and instructed the young deputy to take the menacing girl to the tank.

  I held up my hand to stop them. “I think she needs to come with us just in case I'm wrong and I need to try again.”

  Tara comprehended my words and sneered. “So you're the tracker. Duke had plans for you since someone with your magical talents fetches a high price. Better watch your back,” she threatened.

  Mason formed another wardens’ hold over her and forced her to walk ahead of him. He turned to me, “You better come with since you’re the only one who knows where to go.”

  Shelby spoke up, a little shaken from the whole situation. “Do you need me to come?”

  I shook my head. “I hate to say it, but your sister is more useful in this situation.”

  “Yeah,” added Tara. “You've always been pretty useless.”

  Allowing power to spark at my fingertips, I flicked a stinging hex at her behind.

  Tara jumped and shrieked. “You can't let her get away with that.”

  “Keep moving,” barked Mason.

  I followed behind them and watched Mason force her into his car. She kicked and screamed in the backseat until Zeke took over with his wardens’ magic.

  “Want to share where we’re going?” asked Mason, holding the car door open for me.

  I paused before getting in. “If I'm right, the book is waiting for us at The Harvest Moon.”

  We pulled up to the sidewalk in front of the cafe, ignoring the spectacle we created. Without holding Tara’s hand again, I only had the leftover image to go on. However, I'd rather take more time to find the location than to have to touch the witch with a capital B again.

  “If you’re a very good girl, maybe I'll bring you out an iced tea,” I taunted her.

  She tried to say something nasty to me, but Zeke cast a quick silent spell on her.

  Mason allowed me to take the lead, and I felt the burn of stares from everyone in the place. All conversation stopped as they watched us with curiosity.

  Sassy floated over to us, her wings fluttering in nervous quivers. “Can I help you?” her high-pitched voice shook.